Wireless, remote-controlled portable searchlight

Abstract

A portable searchlight is described which includes an upper lamp housing, a lower base support unit and a releasable attachment device to releasably attach the base support unit to another surface, such as, the roof of a motor vehicle. The lamp housing can be tilted or rotated by wireless remote control either from the interior of the vehicle or from a location away from the vehicle. The releasable attachment device is such that the apparatus can be secured by a suction cup or by placing the base support unit in a shoe which is anchored to another surface.

We claim: 
     
       1. A portable searchlight assembly for mounting on a vehicle wherein a lamp unit is mounted in a housing having vertical drive means for tilting said lamp unit in a vertical direction and horizontal drive means for rotating said lamp unit in a horizontal direction, the combination therewith comprising: a first user controllable remote control means separate from said lamp unit for actuation of said vertical drive means;   a second user controllable remote control means separate from said lamp unit for actuation of said horizontal drive means; and   wherein said first and second remote control means comprise a wireless transmitter and receiver each having at least two separate channels, said receiver mounted in said housing, one of said receiver channels being coupled to said vertical drive means and the other of said receiver channels being coupled to said horizontal drive means and wherein said motors can be operated by wireless transmission at remote distances from said lamp unit without electrical connection between said motors and said remote control means.   
     
     
       2. The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a third user controllable remote control means for remotely actuating electrical power to said lamp unit. 
     
     
       3. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein said user controllable remote control means comprises an RF transmitter and an RF receiver each having at least three channels. 
     
     
       4. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said user controllable remote control means comprises an RF transmitter and an RF receiver. 
     
     
       5. In a searchlight apparatus for mounting on a vehicle wherein a lamp unit is mounted in a housing having vertical drive means for tilting said lamp unit in a vertical direction and horizontal drive means for rotating said lamp unit in a horizontal direction through at least 360°, the improvement comprising: a base support member on said housing;   attaching means for releasably attaching said base support member to a substantially flat surface wherein said attaching means includes a base plate, fastener means for connecting said base plate to said surface, said base plate including a shoe with said base support member being inserted into said shoe, and a removable stop member for retaining said base support member in said shoe; and   wireless remote control means for controlling vertical and horizontal movement of said searchlight apparatus, said remote control means including an on/off switch and a four-way directional control switch, and a self-contained transmitter wherein said motors can be operated by wireless transmission at remote distances from said housing without electrical connection between said motors and said remote control means, and a receiver mounted within said housing and connected to a power source on said vehicle, said power source being selectively connected to said moors through said receiver, said receiver having at least two separate channels, one of said receiver channels being coupled to said vertical drive means and the other of said receiver channels being coupled to said horizontal drive means.   
     
     
       6. A searchlight apparatus for mounting on the roof of a vehicle comprising in combination: a lamp housing including a lamp unit mounted therein, vertical drive means including a reversible motor for tilting said lamp unit in a vertical direction;   a base support unit mounted beneath said housing, said housing being journaled on said base support unit, and horizontal drive means interposed between said base support unit and said housing including a reversible drive motor for energizing said horizontal drive means to rotate said housing through greater than 360°;   releasable attaching means on said base support unit for releasably attaching said base support unit and housing to the roof of a motor vehicle without altering the roof itself; and   wireless remote control means for selectively energizing each of said electrical motors to independently control vertical movement of said lamp unit and horizontal movement of said housing, said remote control means including a self contained transmitter adapted to be carried by an operator of said vehicle wherein said motors can be operated by wireless transmission both from within said vehicle and at remote distances from said vehicle without electrical connection between said motors and said remote control means, and a receiver mounted within said housing and connected to a power source within said vehicle, said power source being selectively connected to said motors through said receiver, said receiver having at least two separate channels, one of said receiver channels being coupled to said vertical drive means and the other of said receiver channels being coupled to said horizontal drive means.   
     
     
       7. A searchlight apparatus according to claim 6, said horizontal drive means including an annular gear mounted in said base support unit, said electrical motor for said horizontal drive means mounted in said housing above said gear and including a pinion extending downwardly from said electrical motor into intermeshing engagement with said annular gear. 
     
     
       8. A searchlight apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said horizontal drive means is further characterized by an annular groove in outer concentric relation to said annular groove, a stop member disposed in said annular groove, and a follower pin rotatable with said housing and movable through said annular groove when said housing is rotated. 
     
     
       9. A searchlight apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a horizontal support plate for said horizontal drive motor is connected to said housing and includes an elongated slot through which said follower pin extends. 
     
     
       10. A searchlight apparatus according to claim 9, said lamp housing including a handle, said handle being in the form of a generally U-shaped bracket including downwardly extending legs on opposite sides of said housing and an intermediate hand grip spaced above said housing and extending between said legs. 
     
     
       11. In a searchlight apparatus wherein a lamp unit is mounted in a housing having vertical drive means for tilting said lamp unit in a vertical direction and horizontal drive means for rotating said lamp unit in a horizontal direction, the improvement comprising: a base support member on said housing;   attaching means on said base support member for releasably attaching said base support member to a substantially flat surface, said attaching means including a rubber boot on said base support member, and actuating means engageable with said boot for drawing said boot into vacuum-tight relation to said surface; and   wireless remote control means for controlling vertical and horizontal movement of said searchlight apparatus, said remote control means including a self-contained transmitter adapted to be carried by an operator of a motor vehicle wherein said drive means can be operated by wireless transmission both from within said vehicle and at remote distances from said vehicle without electrical connection between said drive means and said remote control means, and having an on/off switch and a four-way directional control switch, and a receiver mounted within said housing.   
     
     
       12. In a searchlight apparatus according to claim 11, said boot including an upwardly directed, outer peripheral lip engageable with an outer peripheral surface of said base support member. 
     
     
       13. In a searchlight apparatus according to claim 11, said actuating means including a manual control member disposed within said base support unit to control flexing of said boot into and out of engagement with said surface.